Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-03
THE WASP AND THE SPIDER.

While sitting one summers day on a
piazza near two large trees, something
dropped upon my head and rolled into my
lap, when | saw large white-bodied
spider in the clutches of small wasp.
Hastily brushing these unceremonious Wis
itors upon the floor, watched to see if the
wasp would succeed in flying away with
his huge enemy. After a struggle the
spider lay quiet; and the wasp ran around,
seizing first one part, then another, but
finally went away, as | supposed, for help.
In about a quarter of an hour he returned,
still alone, and began trying again, as /
thought, to find some place by which he
could seize the round body, and carry it
away. Again he departed without his
spider. This time watched him, and saw
him disappear at the edge of the lawn,
him, after some searching, diligently at
work, with another wasp, in charging
hole in the ground, having already thrown
out quite little mound of earth. / was
surprised, for did not then know that any
kind of wasp lived in the ground.
returned to the piazza; and soon, when
the wasp came back, | was convinced, by
more careful watching, that he was measur-
ing each part of the spiders body, instead
of trying TO get hold of it. The antenne
seemed to be the organs mostly employed
in this operation. When he went home
again, was before him, and saw him meet
his co-worker, put his head close to his and
evidently inform him that the doorway
was not yet big enough, for they fell busily
at work charging it. Then more measur-
ing, more digging, until, after three long
hours, he returned, this time with his
friend, and they carried away their prey,
and bestowed it in their underground
home.
BABY ELEPHANTS.
How the young elephants in the large
herds escape from being crushed is some
thing of mystery, as they are almost con-
stantly In motion; but when herd is
alarmed, the young almost Immediately
disappear. close observer would see that
each baby was trotting along directly be-
meath its mother, sometimes between her
| fore legs.
On the march, when little elephant is
born in herd they stop day or two to
allow it time to exercise its little limbs
| and gain strength, and then they press on,
the mothers and babies in front, the old
| tuskers following in the rear, but ready to
rush forward at the first alarm. When
rocky or hilly places are reached the little
ones are helped up by the mothers, who
push them from behind and in various
ways; but when river has to be forded
or swum, comical sight ensues
The stream may be very rapid and
rough, as the Indian rivers often are after
rain, and at such place the babies
would hardly be able to keep up with the
rest so the mothers and fathers help them.
At first all plunge boldly in-both young
and old-and when the old elephants reach
deep water, where they have to swim, the
young scramble upon their backs and sit
astride, sometimes two being seen in this
position. But the very young elephants
often require little more care and atten-
ton, SO that they are held either upon the
tusks of the father or grasped in the trunk
of the mother, and held over or Just at the
surface of the water Such sight is a
curious one, to say the least-the great
elephants almost hidden beneath the
water, here and there a young one SEEM
ingly walking upon the water, resting upon
submerged back, or held aloft while the
dark waters roar below-C T. Holder, IN
| 81. Nicholas for Nouember.